The $7.7 million project, nearly half funded by the state with donors covering the rest, was years in the making, according to Ward 4 Councilwoman Francis Allen-Palenske, who lobbied the governor for the location. She described it as "the largest veterans memorial in size and scope west of the Mississippi."

For double Purple Heart veteran Vincent Palmieri, who served in the Vietnam War, the memorial represents a welcome home and a sense of acceptance he said he never received when he returned from combat.

"Standing in front of this Vietnam statue brings back a lot of memories," Palmieri said. "Some are good, some I don't want to remember. But I feel that my brothers and sisters, we can come here."

The statues previously stood at the Grant Sawyer Building, but that area was redeveloped for affordable housing, leaving the sculptures without a permanent home for a time. Palmieri said he was moved to tears when he first saw them in their new setting.

"I came in the gate and my body just like kind of froze," he said. "And as I got in closer, he came up to me, and my eyes were filling with tears because if you saw this at the Grant Sawyer Building and you see this here today, it's like day and night."

Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley, local politicians and the Metro police sheriff spoke at the ceremony about the importance of honoring those who served.

"This is the most beautiful Veterans Memorial I have ever seen," the mayor said. "And I'm so proud of the city. And so proud to be the mayor of a city that cares so much about its Veterans."

Allen-Palenske said the location was chosen deliberately, situated roughly halfway between Creech Air Force Base and Nellis Air Force Base in a part of the valley with a large concentration of active-duty military members and retirees.

"It's greatly situated, about halfway distance between Creech Air Force Base and Nellis Air Force Base," she said. "So we have a lot of active duty military living in the Northwest part of the Valley, and a lot of retirees by virtue of being centrally located. So there's a lot of veterans here."

The turnout surpassed organizers' preparations. Allen-Palenske said the city rented 350 chairs based on RSVPs, but the crowd swelled to an estimated 600 to 700 people, with standing room only.

The memorial also includes an amphitheater intended to host events for years to come. Allen-Palenske said the city is developing an audio component so visitors can learn about the history behind each sculpture, and that the memorial's website has just been completed. The city is also working with the Clark County School District and UNLV on curriculum and field trips tied to the site.

The city said it is still raising money for the project. Those interested in contributing can contact the Mayor's Fund.